Metal working



June 16, 1964 Filed obi. 7, 1958 7" 56640144/ ATTORNEYS C. L. SPORCKMETAL WORKING June 16, 1964 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OCt. 7, 1958INVENTOR 'L/w L. SPa/Fak C. L. SPORCK June 16, 1964 METAL WORKING 15Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 7, 1958 xNvENToR 2m/5 L. SPa/vak fr ATTORNEYSC. L. SPORCK June 16, 1964 METAL WORKING 3 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct.7, 1958 51:5 C azs 4m INVENTOR C'Mus l.. SfocK `ulle 16, 1964 C,-|SPORCK 3,137,259

METAL WORKING Filed Oct. 7, 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 OID /53 24x INVENTOR2,405 l.. spv/2cK C. L. SPORCK METAL WORKING June 16, 1964 15Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed OGC. 7, 1958 June 16, 1964 c. L. sPoRcK 3,137,259

METAL WORKING Filgezd oct. 7, 1958 15 sheets-sheet v INVENTOR CL/ws LSAQ/FCK l l -f- Mw., LAL@ MORNEYS June 16, 1964 c. 1 sPoRcK 3,137,259

METAL WORKING T TORNEYS June 16, 1964 c. L. sPoRcK 3,137,259

METAL WORKING Filed oct. '7, 1958 15 sheets-Sheet 9 C. L. SPORCK June16, 1964 METAL WORKING 15 Sheets-Sheet l0 Filed Oct. 7, 1958 K m y s R5*w O. N .NIL R O Es r VU T ma A a 5 L 6 n wim? 2 /w ,z s :a R M A-- L/ 96 av l u M u m IL L 11| J w/ E m WM im 5 M Jun@ 15, 1954 c. l.. sPoRcK3,137,259

METAL WORKING Filed OCt.. 7, 1958 l5 Sheets-Sheet 11 way/Aa: a ane/PPE#PUMP 256 Z302 aim/A65 cm. TOP

7-0 JUMP dJ/Z tra .fl/MP lNvEN-r OR Leu5 l.. SHQ/MK (7920.

vua/W ATTORNEYS June 16, 1964 c. l.. sPoRcK 3,137,259

METAL WORKING Filed oct. 7, 1958 15 sheets-sheet 12 RES/JTAACE VAL v5CARR /AGE CYL l/v DER /00 FIG/l 7' #ANP VAL VE FAE lNvENToR "5 34 (2,405L. SPa/eck fr 206' BY ATTORNEYS June 16, 1964 c. L, sPoRcK 3,137,259

METAL WORKING ATTORNEY C. L. SPORCK June 16, 1964 METAL WORKING l5Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Oct. 7. 1958 TILS TOCK ENGA GES BLAH K BRAKERELEASED BRAKE APPLIED SPINDLE STOPS CLUT'CH DIS-ENGAG ED fg 2f INVENTOR(2.405 L. SPO/fdl( Weww ATTORNEYS United States Patent O f.; il

3,137,2sa METAL WORKllNG @Saus L. Sporck, Cincinnati, Ghia, assignor toThe Lodge @t Shipley Company, Cincinnati, Ghia, a corporation of hioFiled ct. '7, 1958, Ser. No. 765,378 19 Claims. (Cl. 113-52) Thisinvention relates to the art of metal working and, in particular,relates to apparatus for forming hollow articles from sheet metalblanks.

The term hollow as used herewith will be understood to apply to a formedarticle which is frusto-conical in shape, for example an article similarin shape to a megaphone, and is also meant to include an article whichhas a hemispherical shape such as a bowl, to an article which is in theshape of a horn and to an article which is generally tubular orcylindrical in shape. It will be understood that the term sheet metalincludes plate, sheet or plate-like elements when formed by forging,rolling, casting and the like.

ln general the apparatus disclosed herein relates to the cold working orflowing of metals by use of a roller or rollers cooperating With acontoured tool or spindle cornmonly known in the art as power spinning.Known machines for this purpose comprise, in general, a rotatablespindle which is contoured to the shape of the article desired, arotatable tailstock for clamping or holding a blank on the spindletogether with a roller mounted on a suitable carriage movable over abed. The carriage is moved so that the roller is brought up to the blankand, while the spindle and blank are rotating, the roller is moved overthe surface of the spindle to flow or axially displace the metal of theblank and form the article. Where the article is of conical shape, suchmachines are arranged so that the bed mounting the carriage can beoriented with respect to the rotational axis of the spindle whereby thecarriage moves parallel to the spindle surface. Where the article is tobe contoured, the machine may be equipped with a tracer mechanismappropriately moving a roller slide or rest toward and away from thespinde axis. With such tracer control the desired contour is obtained bythe resultant roller motion, the carriage imparting to the roller acomponent of motion along the spindle axis and the roller rest acomponent of motion transverse the axis.

In copending application 679,551, tiled August 20, 1957 (now Patent No.3,104,640), and being a division of application 454,871, tiled September9, 1954 (now Patent No. 3,114,342), there is disclosed apparatus forworking sheet metal blanks by cold rolling or power spinning. Themachine disclosed in Patent 3,104,640, as viewed in a general way, makesuse of various known elements such as a spindle, tailstock, carriagemounting a roller rest and tracer mechanism to control the in and outmotion of the roller rest. As disclosed in that application, suchelements have been improved in structure and function, and operationcoordinated in a manner previously unknown. Additionally, thisapplication discloses elements of a highly novel nature in the coldilowing art of the kind in question.

The present invention discloses a machine generally along the lines ofthat disclosed in Patent 3,104,640 in that the machine is particularlysuitable for the power spinning of sheet metal blanks into nishedarticles of the desired shape, and the machine functions in a mannerwhich is largely automatic since the operator merely has to load andremove blanks and initiate the machine operation by pressing a button.

With the foregoing in mind, it is pointed out that the present inventionmakes substantial improvements both in the apparatus of the art and inthe apparatus of Patent BBZSQ' Patented June 16, 1964 ICC 3,104,640.certain wholly novel structures and further provides for new and usefulcooperative action between such new structures and/or between improvedstructures, the foregoing being heretofore unknown and measurablycontributing to the advance of the cold working art.

In the forming of articles of the kind discussed herein, it isexceedingly important that dimensional accuracy be maintained,particularly where such articles are for industrial or military use. Bydimensional accuracy is meant the overall length of the article andparticularly the thickness of its side wall. For dimensional accuracy inthe finished article, it is essential to eliminate distortions so as tomaintain the desired relative positions of the spindle and roller (orrollers) while the blank is being worked. Despite the requireddimensional accuracy, it is necessary, in order to have reasonablecosts, that such articles be made on a mass production basis by afast-operating machine which is largely automatic.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide afast-operating, automatic machine whose components are constructed andarranged to, in themselves, be strong, rugged and free from distortionand to cooperate with one another in forming an overall structure whichfunctions to maintain the desired dimensional accuracy of the articlesbeing formed.

As one aspect of this, the invention contemplates a novelbed or framehaving spaced ends, one of which rotatably mounts a spindle and theother, the driving mechanism for a carriage, the two ends beinginterconnected by a plurality of columns or tie-in members symmetricallydisposed about the rotational axis of the spindle. Preferably there arethree columns located substantially at the vertices of a triangle withthe spindle axis substantially at the center of the same. This structureprovides a strong, rugged, lightweight frame which, in itself, and incooperation with the carriage carrying the rollers, is conductive todistortion-free operation under high speeds and loads.

Further in this connection, the invention contemplates that the bed andthe rotational axis of the spindle be oriented in a true verticaldirection. This is of considerable advantage and importance from thestandpointl of distortion because there are no gravity cantilever loadson the spindle.

Further the invention contemplates a highly novel carriage structureguided on the bed for up and down movement in a direction along therotational axis of the spindle. The carriage and its connectedcomponents are arranged so that the composite center of gravity liesalong the rotational axis of the spindle. Thus, the carriage and theconnected components impose no moments on the bed nor on the spindlewhich otherwise would set up distortions and hence deviations from thedesired roller-spindle positions.

The carriage itself has a pair of at plates disposed on either side ofthe spindle axis and connected together centrally by a block and furtherconnected together outboard on either side of the block by webbedmembers which mount the roller rests. The plates, block and webbedmembers are all interconnected by key and keyway means which contributeto ultimate rigidity, yet provide for the webbed members to beadjustable toward and away from the axis of the spindle for obtainingroller and spindle alignment. The force for moving the carriage isprovided by piston and cylinder means interconnected between thecarriage and the bed, the piston and cylinder means being arranged sothat the resultant force thereof lies along the spindle axis. With thistype of arrangement, the driving thrust for the carriage imposes nocantilever loads on the carriage itself, nor on the In addition, thepresent invention provides` bed. Preferably there are two of such pistonand cylinder means, the axes of which lie in a plane containing therotational axis of the spindle and being disposed in such plane at equaldistances from the spindle axis.

The roller rests contemplated by the invention are of uniqueconstruction comprising cylinders respectively movably mounted on thewebbed members and cooperating with pistons fixed to the webbed members,the axes of the pistons and cylinders lying in the above-mentionedplane. The cylinders are movable toward and away from the spindle axisso that the thrusts or loads developed by the pistons and cylinders, incausing roller motion toward and away from the spindle axis, lie in theabovementioned plane and, therefore, impose no cantilever loads on thecarriage; The roller rests mount the rollers so that their working tipsand/or rotational axes lie in said plane and, with the thrusts of thepiston and cylinder means also lying in said plane, there are nounbalanced radial or cantilever loads on the spindle. The tracermechanisms operating the roller rests contribute to this condition bycontrolling the rests so that the working tips of the rollers, during aworking operation, are symmetrical with respect to the spindle axis.

The above referred-to Patent 3,104,640 discloses a novel and highlyadvantageous mechanism which provides that the rollers shall form thearticle with the required dimensions despite variations in the originalthickness of the blank. For this purpose that application disclosesmechanism for automatically and correctly positioning the tracer templetat the start of the working operation whereby the rollers will also becorrectly positioned, the position of the templet being determined bythe thickness of the blank.

It is an object of the invention to provide certain improvements in suchmechanism. The invention contemplates that the tailstock and templetboth be mounted on a main structure which is movably, yieldablysupported by the carriage, the moving and yielding conditions beingprovided by hydraulic piston and cylinder means. The arrangementprovides that the tailstock and templets be fixed connected to that whenthe tailstock engages a blank on the spindle, the templet is xed in itscorrect position while the carriage can continue to move. Thearrangement of the invention is particularly suitable for positivelydriving the main structure in both the up and down direction. This, inconjunction with the vertically-mounted spindle, is highly advantageousfrom the standpoint of reducing the overall length of the machine.Another advantage in such an arrangement is that the main structure canbe independently controlled for the purpose of using the tailstock as apress to push or pull articles or blanks off the spindle, particularlywhen the blank and/or article is tubular in shape. A further advantagein the present structure is that the tailstock is mounted so that itsrotational axis is in a vertical direction and, heretofore, not subjectto gravity cantilever loads.

Still another object of the invention is to provide structure so thatthe rollers, during a working operation, move toward or away from theaxis of the spindle in a direction which is oriented at an acute angleto the spindle axis, the preferred angle being 60. This has specialadvantage in that the required structure which is relatively light inweight yet able to withstand the thrusts involved without distortion.The preferred angle of 60 is of importance in that it is conducive to amachine of minimum overall length and width.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roller in a machine ofthe kind described whose rotational axis is oriented at about 75 withrespect to the rotational axis of the spindle so that the plane of theroller working tip is disposed at an angle of about to the spindle axis.This is particularly advantageous from the standpoint of the ease ofworking the metal, hence minimizing the power requirements for drivingthe rollers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide unique mechanismwhich is arranged to correctly position a blank on the spindle for thestart of the working operation and, when the working operation is over,to move the formed article away from the spindle.

Certain other objects and features of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a machine constructed inaccordance with the invention with the parts shown in position ready tostart working the blank;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front sectional elevational view, the left-handhalf of the view being shown in elevation and the right-hand half insection as indicated by the line 2-2 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross section taken as indicated by the line 3 3in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 4 is a plan section taken as indicated by the line 4-4 in FIGURE3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the right-hand roller restcylinder and the tracer valve for controlling it looking from the backof the machine;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the machine;

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view of part of the carriage structure;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a half view illustrating one of the carriage plates and theadjustably mounted side support;.

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of part of the templet mountingstructure;

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of the positioning and stripping mechanism;

FIGURE 14 is a sectional elevational view of the mechanism of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 15-15 of FIGURE13 FIGURE 16 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 16-16 ofFIGURE 13;

FIGURE 17 is a more or less diagrammatic sectional elevational viewillustrating the machine in its starting position, the templet structurebeing shown in dot and dash lines in order not to hide other parts andthat the switch trip dogs carried thereby and the associated switcheshave been diagrammatically indicated. The switch trip dogs carried bythe carriage and the associated switches also have been diagrammaticallyindicated;

FIGURE 18 is a similar view showing the position of the parts at the endof the operation of working the blank on the spindle to form a cone;

FIGURE 19 is a similar view showing the position of components of themachine during a portion of the upward travel of the carriage;

FIGURES 20 and 20a taken together schematically illustrate the hydrauliccircuits of the machine;

FIGURES 21 and 22 are schematic diagrams illustrating the electricalcircuits of the machine; and FIGURE 23 is a chart showing in a generalmanner the sequence of machine operation.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 1-16, the machine in generalcomprises: the bed or frame F, the rotatable tool or spindle T mountedon the bed, the carriage C arranged on the bed for movement back andforth generally along the rotational axis of the spindle, roller restsRS mounted on the carriage for back and forth movement transverse thespindle axis and carrying work rollers R, tracer mechanism comprisingvalves SD on the roller mounts and the templets or patterns P, theltemplet mounting structure Te movably mounted on the carriage andcarrying the templets P and a tailstock TS, together with blankpositioning and stripping mechanism S.

The spindle or tool T is secured on a vertical shaft Si) having bevelgear drive connection 31 with a drive shaft 32 suitably driven by amotor (not shown). An electrically-controlled clutch 33,diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 1, controls engagement anddisengagement of the drive shaft 32 with the spindle 39, and anelectricallycontrolled brake is provided as indicated at 34. The spindleas shown is conically shaped. However, it will be understood that it mayhave other shapes depending upon the type of article to be made, forexample a cylindrical, horn or bowl shape.

The Carriage The carriage serves the basic function of supporting therollers and templets and imparts to the rollers a coniponent of motionin a direction along the spindle axis. The carriage and its connectedcomponents are arranged so that the composite center of gravity is alongthe spindle axls.

The carriage C comprises two rugged substantially triangular flat platesd6 and 67 in spaced parallel relation as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 4, acentral support block 68, a side support member 69, a side support 7d,all rigidly secured together as explained below.

The block 68 has three spaced, integral collars 68a, 63h and 63C, thecollars 63a and 63e having flat sides 71 (FIGURES 8 and 9) abutting theplates 66 and 67 and secured by bolts (not shown) secured in thethreaded holes 72. The collar sdb has iiat surfaces 73 having keyways 74therein which receive keys 75 carried by the plates 66 and 67 andextending for the length of the plates.

The block 68 is apertured as indicated at 76 and on top of the block islixedly secured a head or cap 77. The block and head are slotted at 7Sand is best seen in FIG- URE 8.

The side support members 69 and 7i) are of box-like form rigidly bracedby spaced webs 79 to provide a rugged construction and are securedbetween the plates do and 67 by tie rods 80 and nuts 31. The sidesupport members 69 and 7i) are provided with keyways 82 for the keys 75.

As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 4, the central support block is positionedcentrally lengthwise of the carriage so that the axis of the aperture 76is substantially coaxial with the rotational axis of the spindle. Theplates 66 and 67 and the side supports 69 and 7@ are also symmetricallydisposed with respect to the spindle axis. This gives symmetricaidistribution of forces about the spindle axis. The side support members69 and 7) may be desirably positioned with respect to the spindle axisby loosening the nuts 31 and moving the same on the keys 75. Thisadjustment is accomplished by means of end adjusting screws S3 andhaving their bearings in end cross members 85 and 815 secured to thecarriage plates 66 and 67. Elongated slots 87 are provided in themembers 69 and 70 to enable the adjustment. The side supports mount therollers and, by means of the foregoing adjustment, the spacing of thework rollers R, can be altered to suit work pieces and tools ofdifferent diameters. This adjustment is also provided to enable levelingof the two rollers so as to work in the same horizontal plane.

The above-described structure and disposition of the carriage areimportant features of the machine. The plates, the central block and theside supports make a strong and rugged unit capable of taking up thethrusts or stresses produced in a working operation with the veryminimum of deflection or distortion. Arranging the carriage generallysymmetrically with respect to the spindle axis is conducive to coniiningresultant thrust load taken by the carriage along the spindle axis sothat there are no undesired bending moments. The keys 75' which tie inthe various carriage parts perform an important function in permittingadjustability of side supports yet insuring necessary rigidity. Inaddition to providing a rugged,

deection-free carriage, the structure is such that the carriage is ofrelatively small size and light Weight. This is important because thecarriage is adapted to move in a vertical direction and the necessarypower for moving the carriage upwardly is minimized. A distortionandmoment-free carriage is especially important in maintaining the properrelative position of the roller and spindle during a working operation.

The Bed The function of the bed is to form a support for the rotatablespindle and for the carriage with its connected elements, the bed beingof a structure so that it will not distort under the stresses producedin a working operation nor cause distortions of the spindle mount northe carriage and its connected parts. Distortionless operation is highlydesirable so that there will be no deviations of the desired relativeposition of the spindle and rollers during a Working operation. Thiscontributes to the formation of accurately dimensioned articles.

The bed (or frame) comprises a base or support 90, serving as aheadstock for the machine, a main upright column or frame 91 (FIGURES 3and 7) of very rugged construction supported on the base and having apair of side brace members 92,92 also secured to the base, a substantialweb reinforced top cap or support 93 secured to the top of the column 91and braces 92, 92, a pair of spaced columns or frames 94 and 94aextending from the base 9i? to the cap 93. The column 91 is of heavierconstruction than the columns 94 and 94a since it serves the function ofguiding the carriage and supporting a carriage counter-weight. A pair ofbrackets 95, 95 extend downwardly from the cap 93. The base has a ruggedtop plate 9de provided with radial reinforcing webs 90b.

As best seen in FTGURE 4, the columns 91, 94 and 94a are disposed on thebase so that their vertical axes are located at the points X, Y and Z orat the vertices of a triangle. Also, it will be observed that thecolumns are arranged with respect to the spindle axis so that thespindle axis lies substantially at the center of this triangle. As willbe explained more in detail later, during a working operation thecarriage moves the rollers against the blank on the spindle and thereaction of the means moving the carriage is taken on the top cap 93.Thus the stresses of the working operation tend to move the spindle andbase away from the top cap. Such movement is prevented by thearrangement and structure of the columns 91, 94 and 94a. The top cap andthe base 90 are distortion-free due to the heavy webbed constructiondescribed above. I have found that by having the columns spaced intriangular fashion with the spindle axis generally centrally thereofleads to symmetrical load distribution about the spindle axis andresulting in equal loads being taken by the columns so that theresultant forces act along the spindle axis. This prevents undesirabletension or twisting strains in the columns and in the base and top cap.The foregoing is an important part of the invention in that a sturdy,relatively immovable bed prevents distortion between the relativespindle and roller positions desired during the working operation.

The carriage is guided in its up and down motion by means on the maincolumn 91. The guide means takes the form of spaced vertical gibs 96, 96(FIGURES 3, 4 and 7) cooperating with spaced Vertical gibs 97, 97 on thecarriage plate 67. The gibs and their supporting shoulders in the plateand column are very accurately machined so that up and down motion ofthe carriage runs true with the spindle axis.

The Carriage Pistons and Cylinders Up and down movement is imparted tothe carriage by means of a pair of hydraulic piston and cylinderdevices, one to each side of the spindle axis, comprising cylinders1th?, 100 depending from the flanges 191, 161 of the head 7'7 andcentered at their lower ends in brackets 102, 102

e secured to the block 68 adjacent its lower end. Upper and lowerclosures 103 and 104 are provided for the cylinders 100 and vertical tierods 105 tie the cylinders to the flanges 101 (FIGURE 8). Pistons 106,106 are secured to piston rods 107, 107 depending from the top cap 93are provided in the cylinders.

Fluid is admitted and exhausted at the upper ends of the cylinders viainlet pipes 110 (FIGURE 2), lateral passages 111, annular chambers 112and lower ports 113. Fluid is admitted and exhausted at the lower endsof the cylinders by inlet pipes 115 and central passages 116.

When uid is flowing to the lower ends of the cylinders and exhaustingfrom the upper ends, the carriage is moving down. When uid flow isreversed, the carriage is moving up. The mass of the carriage (and theconnected parts not yet described) are counter-balanced by acounterweight CW connected to the head 77 by a chain and sprocket systemgenerally designated by the numeral S.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the pistons and cylinders are disposed thesame distance on either side of the rotational axis of the spindle andlie in a plane PSA containing the spindle axis. The forces or thrustsdeveloped by the pistons and cylinders in forcing the carriage downduring a working operation react against the top cap 93. With thepistons and cylinders arranged as described, these forces aresymmetrically distributed and the resultant force acts along the spindleaxis. This is important as it eliminates off-axis thrusts which wouldotherwise tend to cause deviations in the desired positions of therollers and spindle during the working operation.

The Roller Rests The roller rests carry the rollers and are mounted onthe carriage side supports 69 and 70 for movement toward and away fromthe rotational axis of the spindle. Each rest imparts to its roller acomponent of motion which is transverse to the rotational axis of thespindle (or the direction of carriage movement). Preferably thiscomponent of motion is at an angle of 60 acute in the direction oppositeto the direction of carriage movement. The movement of each roller restis controlled by a tracer mechanism. During the working operation theroller rests are moved so that the rollers are symmetrically positionedwith respect to the spindle axis. Thus the forces of the rollerscounteract one another and there is no unbalanced forces tending todistort the blank or push the spindle off its normal rotational axis.

The left and right hand rollers RS are of like construction and,therefore, only one will be described in detail.

As best seen in FIGURES 5 and l0, the bottom of the side support has aplanar surface or guideway 130 which is perpendicular to the spindleplane PSA and oriented in the plane at a 60 acute angle to the spindleaxis. It might be pointed out here that the key and keyway means 74 and75 are set up so that lateral adjustment of a side support does notdisturb this relationship.

Movably mounted on the guideway 130 is a housing 131 (see also FIGURE 2)and held in the guideway by gibs 132 secured by bolts 133. The housing131 is formed with an axial bore 135 which constitutes a cylinder forthe piston 136. The piston rod 137 of the piston 136 is rigidly securedby screws 138 to an end block 139 which in turn is rigidly secured tothe side support member by screws 140.

At the end of the housing or cylinder 131 toward the vertical centerline of the machine an inclined surface 144 is provided against whichthe roller block 150 of the work roller R is secured by screws 151 and apositioning key 152. Suitable anti-friction bearings (not shown) areprovided for rotatably mounting the roller R in the block 150. Eachblock mounts its roller so that the rotational axis of the roller makesan acute angle of 75 to the spindle axis.

The piston rod 137 (FIGURE 6) has a central passage 153 and lateralports 154 communicating with the out- 8 board end of the cylinder andthe inboard end of the cylinder is provided with ports 156 and 157. Theports 156, 157 and 155 (on the outboard end of the cylinder) are undercontrol of the tracer valve SD mounted on the roller housing 131 by abracket 158 secured thereto by screws 159 (FIGURES 2 and 4).

In general, when Huid is owing into the outboard end of the cylinder andout of the inboard end of the cylinder, the roller rest is moving awayfrom the spindle axis. When the fluid flow is reversed, the roller restis moving toward the spindle axis.

The manner in which this iiuid flow is controlled will be describedhereinafter.

The construction above described is such that the rotational axis of therollers, the axes of the cylinders 135 and pistons 136 all lie in theplane PSA. Further, the axes of the cylinders and pistons are parallelto the guideway and, therefore, are oriented at an acute angle of withrespect to the spindle axis. When a roller rest moves its roller duringa working operation, the roller and/or its working tip or surface movesin said plane. The foregoing has several important advantages.

During a working operation the thrust of the roller is transmitted tothe side support through the roller block 150, cylinders 135, pistons136 and end block 139. With the above-described construction, theresultant of this thrust lies in the plane PSA. Also, the resultant ofthe forces developed by the piston and cylinder for controlling theroller lie in the spindle plane. Thus, there are no forces or momentswhich develop which would tend to cause undesired carriage distortionand effect a tendency to move the roller out of the spindle plane noitocause deviation of the relative desired position of the roller and thespindle during the working operation. This is highly important from thestandpoint of the ability to produce accurately dimensioned articles.

Positioning the roller so that its axis lies at an acute angle of withthe spindle axis is important from the standpoint of ease of working theblank because the plane of the roller working tip is closely parallel(15) to the direction in which the strata of the blank are displaced,i.e., generally parallel the spindle axis. Thus the necessary power towork the blank is reduced.

Orienting the path of the roller at an angle of 60 is important from thestandpoint of machine construction, particularly in minimizing theoverall length and width of the machine and in the use of components ofrelatively small size for the forces involved in the working operation.For example, when the carriage path and roller path are oriented at toeach other, the total lineal movement of the roller and carriage is aminimum for the purposes of placing a blank on the spindle, working thesame, and then removing. In this type of an arrangement relatively largecomponents are required as the resultant thrust of the rollers is at anacute angle to the spindle axis. By orienting the roller to move at anacute angle, generally smaller components can be used for the forcesinvolved. By making this acute angle 60, the total lineal movements ofthe rests and carriage are only slightly more than the 90 condition.While acute angles of less than 60 may be used, this has thedisadvantage of requiring much longer carriage movement and hence alonger machine. Also, if acute angles of 45 or less are used, thisrequires substantially greater roller movement and hence a much widermachine.

T emplet Mounting Structure Patent 3,104,640 discloses an arrangementfor automatically and correctly positioning the templet, hence therollers, at the start of the working operation so that variations inblank thickness have no effect on the dimensional accuracy of thearticle or the object being formed. The present invention makes certainimprovements in the structure for accomplishing the foregoing.Essentially this is done by providing a main support which is directlyiounted on the carriage and carrying both the templets and thetailstock. This main support is adapted to be positively moved inopposite directions by hydraulic means which also form a yieldingconnection with the carriage. The arrangement not only accomplishes thedesired automatic compensation for deviation in blank thickness, but, inaddition, provides several other highly useful advantages.

The arrangement has special advantage in connection with a vertical typemachine of the kind described herein. With this vertical type machine itis not necessary for the tailstock to remain in contact with the formedarticle until the carriage, rollers, etc., have moved (usually thelength of a blank) away from the spindle as is the case in a horizontalmachine, as otherwise the article would fall oil the spindle and bedamaged or cause damage to the moving parts. On the vertical typemachine it is only necessary that the tailstock remain in contact withthe article until the spindle has been braked and its rotation has beenstopped.

Thus, by mounting the templets and tailstock on a single structuresupported on the carriage and having a yieldable connection therewith,several desirable objectives are accomplished. The templet and tailstockare a unitary structure and the templet is xed in position for theworking operation by the direct action of the tailstock contacting theblank. The yielding connection allows the templet to remain fixed duringthe working operation while the carriage moves, this yielding beingprovided by the hydraulic means. After the working operation thetailstock and templets are positively moved away from the spindlepractically simultaneously with the carriage, this motion being providedby the yielding or hydraulic means.

Positively controlling the templets and tailstock so that the same movesubstantially simultaneously with the carriage back to the startingposition has an additional important advantage in reducing the overalllength of the machine. For example, it is necessary that the carriage,rollers, etc., when in the starting position, be spaced away from thetip of the spindle a distance at least the length of the largest articlewhich the machine is capable of working. This, of course, is necessaryin order that a worked article can be taken oi the spindle. Also, itwill be apparent that the yielding motion between the the tailstock andtemplets and the carriage must be for a length which is at least twicethe length of the largest article to be formed on the machine. Thus, inmachines where the tailstock remains in contact with the blank after theworking operation and is not positively moved back, for example its backmotion being provided by engagement with the carriage, it is necessaryfor the carriage to travel back at least an additional length of thelargest article to be made so that when the carriage is in startingposition, the tailstock will also be in correct starting position. Inother words, the total carriage travel has to be about three times thelength of the largest article. By positively moving the tailstock back,the length. of carriage travel may be reduced by one length of thearticle so that the overall length of the machine is shortened by thatamount.

In FIGURE 2 the main support member is designated by 43. This isgenerally cylindrical in shape and is movably mounted in the aperture 76of the central support block 68. The tailstock TS has a tailstockspindle 4t) rotatably mounted by suitable anti-friction bearings in ahousing 41 secured by bolts 42 to the support member 43. In addition toits function of positioning the templet, the tailstock assists inholding the blank on the spindle. The support member 43 has an uprightextension 44 having a central bore 45 forming a cylinder for the piston46. The piston is xed to the head 77. The piston is double acting sothat the support member can be driven up or down and so that the supportmember can remain fixed while the carriage moves. The axes of the pistonand cylinder and the motion of thesupport member are along the axis ofthe spindle and lie in the plane PSA. rI'hus, the thrusts on thetailstock during the working operation are along the spindle axis whichis important from theV standpoint of providing against ott-axis loadsand deflections. A bottom limit stop ring 49 is secured to the bottomofthe block 68 to limit the extent of downward movement of the support43.

Fluid may be admitted or exhausted to'and from the upper end of cylinder45 by side inlet pipe 118, lateral passage 119, annular chamber 12) andport 121. Fluid may be admitted or exhausted from and to the lower endof cylinder 45 by inlet pipe 123 and central passage 124. When fluid isowing intothe lower end and exhausting from the upper end, the support43 is moving down. When uid is iiowing into the upper end and exhaustingfrom the lower end, the support 43 is moving up. Also, this is thecondition when the support 43 is xed and the carriage, hence the piston46, is moved down.

As seen in FIGURE 3, a laterally projecting arm 5t) is secured to thesupport member 43 by means of a nut 51 and extends outwardly through theelongated slot 7S for connection to the templet slide 61, the connection(FIGURES 3 and ll) being made by means of an adjusting stud 53 andcollars 54.

The templet slide 61 is mounted for up and down sliding movement in avertically disposed gib plate 166 (FIGURES 4 and 7) which is rigidlysecured by screws 167 to the front carriage side plate 66. This slide isconnected to the laterally projecting arm 5t) by the adjusting stud 53as above described.

Mounted in the slide 61 for vertical adjustment in vertical kibs are apair of intermediate support members 169 and 170 having horizontallydisposed gibs 171 (FIGURE 4) in which a pair of templet-carrying members172 and 173 are adjustably mounted. The righthand member 172 carries theright-hand templet and the left-hand member 173 carries the left-handtemplet through the medium of arcuately adjustable plates 176 havingdepending mounting bars 177 to which the templets are secured by clamps178.

It is to be observed that by reason of the adjustable mountingdescribed, the templets are adapted for three adjustments forpositioning them in proper relationship to the spindle. Adjusting knobs179, 180 and 181 having, for example, suitable screw and nut connectionwith the intermediate support members 169 and 170, the templet-carryingmembers 172 and 173, and the arcuate plates 176, are provided to makethe adjustments.

Thus, the templets can be independently adjusted up or down parallel tothe center line of the tool by knobs 179, in or out at 90 to the centerline by knobs 18@ and angularly to line up the templet parallel to thetool by knobs 181. After the two templets have been properly positioned,the slide 61 can be adjusted up or down by the adjusting stud 53 toincrease or decrease the distance between the rollers and the tool.

The Stripper Mechanism The function of the stripper mechanism is tocorrectly support and align the blank with respect to the spindle at thestart of the working operation and then to remove or strip the workedblank, or formed article, from the spindle after the working operation.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 1-3, 13-16, the stripper mechanism Scomprises an annular plate 19d having a central clearance opening 191for the spindle. The plate is arranged to reciprocate back and forthalong the spindle axis. On the plate are radially disposed guideways 192for receiving four adjustable stripper bars 193. The stripper bars 193are adjusted inwardly to a position in which their inner portions 184lap under the edge of the blank B, as shown in FIGURE 13 and are thenclamped in place by tightening the gibs 195 by means of screws 196.

The stripper bars 193 have elongated shouldered slots

1. IN A MACHINE TOOL: A BED; A FIRST SUPPORT MOUNTED ADJACENT ONE END OFSAID BED; A SPINDLE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT; A SECOND SUPPORTMOUNTED ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID BED; A CARRIAGE DISPOSED ONSAID BED FOR MOVEMENT OVER THE BED IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY ALONG THEROTATIONAL AXIS OF SAID SPINDLE; HYDRAULIC PISTON AND CYLINDER MEANS FORMOVING THE CARRIAGE OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAID CARRIAGE ANDSAID SECOND SUPPORT, THE RESULTANT OPERATING FORCE OF SAID MEANS ACTINGALONG THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID SPINDLE; A SUPPORT MEMBER MOVABLEMOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE, THE MOVEMENT BEING IN A DIRECTION GENERALLYALONG SAID ROTATIONAL AXIS; HYDRAULIC PISTON AND CYLINDER MEANS FORMOVING SAID SUPPORT MEMBER OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAIDCARRIAGE AND SAID SUPPORT MEMBER; A ROTATABLE TAILSTOCK MOUNTED ON SAIDSUPPORT MEMBER, THE ROTATABLE TAILSTOCK MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER,THE ROTATIONAL AXIS OF THE TAILSTOCK BEING COAXIAL WITH THE SPINDLEAXIS; TWO ROLLER RESTS RESPECTIVELY MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE ON OPPOSITESIDES OF THE ROTATIONAL AXIS OF THE SPINDLE AND EACH ARRANGED FORMOVEMENT IN A DIRECTION AT AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO SAIDROTATIONAL AXIS; A PAIR OF HYDRAULIC PISTON AND CYLINDER MEANS FORMOVING THE RESTS RESPECTIVELY OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAIDCARRIAGE AND SAID RESTS, THE RESULTANT OPERATING FORCES OF LAST SAIDMEANS LYING IN A PLANE CONTAINING THE ROTATIONAL AXIS OF THE SPINDLE; APAIR OF ROLLERS RESPECTIVELY MOUNTED ON SAID RESTS; AND TWO TRACERVALVES RESPECTIVELY MOUNTED ON SAID RESTS AND COOPERATING RESPECTIVELYWITH SAID TEMPLETS TO CONTROL FLUID FOR LAST SAID PISTON AND CYLINDERMEANS.